Shakespeare's tale of young lovers swept into a catastrophic vortex of misunderstandings, secrets and fate is one of the most beloved stories of all time. Romeo and Juliet, the son and daughter of two noble families locked in an old feud, are irresistibly drawn to each other. Defying the hatred and distrust surrounding them, they dare to believe they can, and must, be together.

Romeo & Juliet is the fourth production in the "Penfold in the Park" series, an annual offering of free, outdoor summer theatre, made possible by a partnership with the City of Round Rock Parks & Recreation Department. Previous productions included The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged (2010), Servant of Two Masters (2011) and Shipwrecked! (2013).

Penfold's staging features a fresh adaptation by Producing Artistic Director Ryan Crowder, which animates the population of Shakespeare's Verona with only five actors in the style of Actors from the London Stage. This passionate, fast-paced telling also showcases sparkling swordplay by Toby Minor and the direction of Baylor University professor Steven Pounders, who was last seen in Austin onstage in Penfold's RED.

Each performance will feature a different special guest who will kick off the evening with a 7:30pm pre-show. Guest artists from past years include the Round Rock Symphony, Ballet Folklorico, Central Texas All-Star Drum Line and many others. Audiences are welcome to arrive early with their own food and drink, or to purchase it from the concessions tent. A list of pre-show artists and food offerings will be posted online later in May.